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By H. H. SPIERS 



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By H. H. SPIERS 



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Copyright Applied for 
In the name of Henry H. Spiers 



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TERMINAL TRAGEDIES 



Care 

No day of life but has its solemn care. 
We live and move as transient beings 
must, 
And in thus doing have a worthy share 
Of all that's coming — more than we 
think just. 

But human nature largely is at fault. 

Whence come our cares? 
Think wisely, all our own? 
Why not at once decide to call a halt? 

Why linger at the threshold and to 
groan? 

'Tis thus in every thing of human kind. 
Our sorrow deepens, why this sorrow 
hold? 
Simply because in every step we're 
blind. 
Why not look out to see joys mani- 
fold? 

Riches perchance come to us. Come to 
all? 
By no means and its wisely planned 
'tis so; 



TERMINAL TRAGEDIES 

Wealth's advent stops our pleasure, 
great and small. 
This may be seen by all wher'ere Vv^e 
go. 

Perhaps 'tis pleasure we on earth en- 
thrall. 

Around its idols some may flock to see 
The votaries of joy and on them call. 

Soon then a worshiper of her to be. 

Dread care with all its glamour waits 
us there. 
As we one burden lift another comes. 
While we stand listless ever wishing 
share. 
The solid work of our brave life 
benumbs. 

May be it's poverty we're fighting. 
Oh the sad day when victim to its 
call! 
Then in the march of time— things 
righting, 
Be we on equal level placed with all. 

What'ere the state of life or living be 



TERMINAL TRAGEDIES 

Unwelcome care comes knocking at 

our door; 
We bid him enter, then no more for me 
Is light and sweetness found upon our 

shore. 

Agar in his love of goodness, beauty, 
Prayed "Poverty nor riches on him 

fall" 
For fear of failure, in line of duty. 
But conscience Yvith the most of us is 

small. 

Look about you! All for wealth are 
praying. 
Could those prayers be answered, 
stricken dumb 
With care we would sadly then be stay- 
ing— 
As blind and stolid creatures to suc- 
cumb. 

Sad is the day for any class or people, 
When wealth alone has only mission 
there. 

Better to demolish every steeple 
Than have this god alone established 



TERMINAL TRAGEDIES 

here. 

In the years to come if we a nation, 
Living, acting in every cause for 
good — 
Each village, hamlet should be a station 
Where this great truth is clearly un- 
derstood. 

Care, like a famine or desolation. 
Stalks us at mid-night or the noon- 
tide hour; 
Leaves with a horror or detestation, 
But madly holds wtihin its lured 
power. 

Cherish then no vainly fond ambition 
That leaves us powerless in its grasp 

to hold. 
Banish thought that we may have 

volition 
To live and do for all through time 

untold. 



T E R M I N A L T^^^ E D I E S 

Politics 

When things are high 

And wages small, 
One draws a sigh, 
"Can't live at air. 

When help is scarce 

And wages high, 
Life is a farce. 

And this no lie. 

With produce low 

And wages great. 
Life is no go 

On real estate. 

When help is full 

And wage is low 
Life is quite dull 

For all below. 

When one wants rain. 

Another snow. 
He thinks again 

To make things go. 



TERMINAL TRAGEDIES 

So in this life 

It seems to me 
The question rife: 

How shall things be? 

On these great themes so 
marked, sublime, 
The politicians spend their 
time. 
It is a question all in line. 
How politics can be so fine'\ 

Common Sense 

One question all have asked and ask 

again : 
Why am I here a traveling on this 

main? 
Such questions none can answer, and 

no doubt 
If answered be, no worth would e'er 

come out. 
One may as wisely stop and hold his 

tongue 
As argue or converse on this so long. 
Should you be traveling o'er a lake of 

ice 



TERMINAL TRAGEDIES 

And stop or break, plunge all in 

waters nice, 
What would the first and last great 

question be? 
How can I best from these great waters 

free. 

One would not wrangle on small 

points of law, 
But simply reach out, grab the near- 
est straw. 
So in this life we^re placed here all can 
see, 
But why or wherefore is small truth 

forme; 
My only and prime object is to move 
So as to gain the greatest worth in love ; 
Not wrangle nor cause here a great 
offense 
By reasoning against a common sense. 



TERMINAL TRAGEDIES 

Old Friends 

"The lamp burns low, my brother dear, 
And we are still upon the road. 

We had no voice in coming here — 
We^re living. This is our abode. 

"The life for us was always sweet, 
Though bitter things were in the way. 

How pleasant here to others meet 
How much of happiness each day." 

"If we on earth much longer stay. 
The friends of youth are all beyond. 

What matters it we're growing gray? 
What cause have we to here despond? 

"When the last call shall summon us 
We pass as others do that way. 

What need of making any fuss? 
More need of gladness on that day." 



TERMINAL TRAGEDIES 



Doubt 

There were just twenty who stood out 
To hear the eloquence on doubt. 
Doubt, said the speaker, "I perceive 
Is negative of to believe." 
Now when one tells me there is doubt, 
I calmly wait me and look out. 
Should Mr. B., who owns a bank. 
Disclose while working at his crank 
That he alone owned not ten cents, 
I certainly would have some sense 
And not go courting of his niece. 
Expecting a nice slice apiece. 
Should farmer A., who owns ten cows, 
Turn loose the jays to have them 
browse 
And in the meantime I should find 
The animals were poor in kind, 
I would not bail him for ten cents — 
My doubts would rise and that im- 
mense. 
Should Turnpike Jake be on a spree, 
I would not say ! Jake call on me. 
My doubts would rise in the event 
That he should ask me for a cent. 
When neighbor Smythe calls on the 



TERMINAL TRAGEDIES 

wire 
To neighbor Jones, "Your house on 
fire," 

I know full well it must be true. 

For telephones are nothing new. 

But how the words run on the wire 
I leave it now to some one higher. 
When Captain J., across the sea, 
Sends home a telegram to me: 
"Your boy is hurt somewhere in 

France,'' 
I simply rise and take no chance. 
I know full well it must be so. 
For telegrams are all the go. 
But how the fluid runs along 
Will certainly quite end my song. 
When brother J., away on high 
Sends flash to me along the sky: 
"S. 0. S. Dear," I view the scene 
And think he's out of gasoline. 
I know full well beyond a doubt. 
He can not run when that is out. 
But how the flash came down to me 
I plainly do not know or see. 
Now Parson James calls ev'ry week 
To have me come to hear him speak. 
He tells me there is far above 



TERMI NA L TRAGEDIES 

A "Place" for all who seek in love. 
My doubts at once arise, you see, 
How he can do so much for me? 
On mornings clear I gaze in space. 
But never yet have seen a "Place". 
Unless I clearly can conceive 
I can not, will not, yet believe." 

Der Kaiser 

The war is over, — so 'tis said, 
Der Keiser has a lesson learned; 

No m.ore with visions in his head 
Will war commence — all nations 
spurned. 

Some simple truths that he may see — 
If apt as pupil as with sword; 

That fighting of itself — per se 
Reaps an inglorious reward. 

That fighting never is indeed 
A fast insurance of good blood. 

That one may have a nation's need. 
And yet be lovely, truly good. 

A people now can wisely know 
The value of external show, 



TERMINAL TRAGEDIES 

But never will a lesson be 
Like lesson of Democracy. 

Belgium^s Christmas 

The bells ring out 

On Christmas morn 
To hail a festal day; 

We look about 
With hope forlorn 

For pleasure in that way. 

Our home is there, 

But no one near 
Can even sing a song. 

Our love must share 
The sorrow here, 

For war has been so long. 

The one who gave 

In other years 
Has gone to his last rest. 

We now must save 
With m.any tears, 

God granting us his best. 

When wars shall cease 
And all is peace 



TERMINAL TRAGEDIES 

Love may his gifts enthrall. 

But we forlorn, 
Sit here this morn, 

Expecting none at all. 

Oh hearts that mourn 

With sorrow worn 
May rest to you be giv'n ! 
Then can we share 

The anguish, care 
For all this side of heav'n. 

Order Reversed 

He came to me 

Most wondrous wise. 

And joy was sparkling in his eyes. 

Said he at once, 
"Fm here to see 
If you will shortly marry me." 

"What, marry you. 
You simple dunce! 
To tie a knot not loosed at once?" 

"Why, when folks marry they attire 
In best of garb and love aspire". 

"Come early and stay late of course. 
Beseech, implore and talk till hoarse". 



TERMINAL TRAGEDIES 

"Get on their knees declare, adore 
And swear that for life evermore" 

"They will watch over and protect 
To never in the least neglect". 

"Then when the girl's worn out with 

sighs, 
She tears her hair, stands up and cries". 

"Now that's the way that people do 
When they the girls in marriage woo". 

"And you my boy, come here to know 
If I will take you now in tow". 

"Well, I propose to change the plan; 
Not marry like a senseless man". 

"I notice that in looking round 
Few happy marriages are found". 

"The plan of marriage you can show. 
But do you happy marriage know" ? 

"Then why expect — compel a way 
Which no good man can take today" ? 

"My plan is this: Get married first — 
Then court till death; 
Accept the worst". 

"Your plan is right my honest boy. 
I will accept with greatest joy". 



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